Hermione screamed. Black leapt to his feet. Harry1 felt as though he'd received a huge electric shock.
“I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow2,” said Snape, throwing the cloak aside, careful to keep this wand pointing directly at Lupin's chest. “Very useful, Potter, I thank you….”
Snape was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. “You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?” he said, his eyes glittering. “I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did…lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight.”
“Severus —” Lupin began, but Snape overrode3 him.
“I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping4 your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout —”
“Severus, you're making a mistake,” said Lupin urgently. “You haven't heard everything — I can explain — Sirius is not here to kill Harry —”
“Two more for Azkaban tonight,” said Snape, his eyes now gleaming fanatically. “I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this…He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin…a tame werewolf —”
“You fool,” said Lupin softly. “Is a schoolboy grudge5 worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?”
BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists, and ankles; he overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move. With a roar of rage, Black started toward Snape, but Snape pointed7 his wand straight between Black's eyes.
“Give me a reason,” he whispered. “Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will.”
Black stopped dead. It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred8.
Harry stood there, paralyzed, not knowing what to do or whom to believe. He glanced around at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked just as confused as he did, still fighting to keep hold on the struggling Scabbers. Hermione, however, took an uncertain step toward Snape and said, in a very breathless voice, “Professor Snape — it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w-would it?”
“Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school,” Snape spat9. “You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue.”
“But if — if there was a mistake —”
“KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!” Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged10. “DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!” A few sparks shot out of the end of his wand, which was still pointed at Black's face. Hermione fell silent.
“Vengeance is very sweet,” Snape breathed at Black. “How I hoped I would be the one to catch you….”
“The joke's on you again, Severus,” Black snarled11. “As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle” — he jerked his head at Ron — “I'll come quietly….”
“Up to the castle?” said Snape silkily. “I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the Dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black…pleased enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay…I —”
What little color there was in Black's face left it.
“You -you've got to hear me out,” he croaked12. “The rat — look at the rat —”
But there was a mad glint in Snape's eyes that Harry had never seen before. He seemed beyond reason.
“Come on, all of you,” he said. He clicked his fingers, and the ends of the cords that bound Lupin flew to his hands. “I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the Dementors will have a kiss for him too —”
Before he knew what he was doing, Harry had crossed the room in three strides and blocked the door.
“Get out of the way, Potter, you're in enough trouble already,” snarled Snape. “If I hadn't been here to save your skin —”
“Professor Lupin could have killed me about a hundred times this year,” Harry said. “I've been alone with him loads of times, having defense13 lessons against the Dementors. If he was helping Black, why didn't he just finish me off then?”
“Don't ask me to fathom14 the way a werewolf's mind works,” hissed15 Snape. “Get out of the way, Potter.”
“YOU'RE PATHETIC!” Harry yelled. “JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN —”
“SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!” Snape shrieked16, looking madder than ever. “Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck; you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant17 to believe you might be mistaken in Black — now get out of the way, or I will make you. GET OUT OF THE WAY, POTTER!”
Harry made up his mind in a split second. Before Snape could take even one step toward him, he had raised his wand.
“Expelliarmus!” he yelled — except that his wasn't the only voice that shouted. There was a blast that made the door rattle18 on its hinges; Snape was lifted off his feet and slammed into the wall, then slid down it to the floor, a trickle19 of blood oozing20 from under his hair. He had been knocked out.
Harry looked around. Both Ron and Hermione had tried to disarm21 Snape at exactly the same moment. Snape's wand soared in a high arc and landed on the bed next to Crookshanks.
“You shouldn't have done that,” said Black, looking at Harry.
“You should have left him to me….”
Harry avoided Black's eyes. He wasn't sure, even now, that he'd done the right thing.
“We attacked a teacher…We attacked a teacher…” Hermione whimpered, staring at the lifeless Snape with frightened eyes. “Oh, we're going to be in so much trouble —”
Lupin was struggling against his bonds. Black bent22 down quickly and untied23 him. Lupin straightened up, rubbing his arms where the ropes had cut into them.
“Thank you, Harry,” he said.
“I'm still not saying I believe you,” he told Lupin.
“Then it's time we offered you some proof,” said Lupin. “You, boy — give me Peter, please. Now.”
Ron clutched Scabbers closer to his chest.
“Come off it,” he said weakly. “Are you trying to say he broke out of Azkaban just to get his hands on Scabbers? I mean…” He looked up at Harry and Hermione for support, “Okay, say Pettigrew could turn into a rat — there are millions of rats — how's he supposed to know which one he is after if he was locked up in Azkaban?”
“You know, Sirius, that's a fair question,” said Lupin, turning to Black and frowning slightly. “How did you find out where he was?”
Black put one of his claw-like hands inside his robes and took out a crumpled24 piece of paper, which he smoothed flat and held out to show the others.
It was the photograph of Ron and his family that had appeared in the Daily Prophet the previous summer, and there, on Ron's shoulder, was Scabbers.
“How did you get this?” Lupin asked Black, thunderstruck.
“Fudge,” said Black. “When he came to inspect Azkaban last year, he gave me his paper. And there was Peter, on the front page on this boy's shoulder…I knew him at once…how many times had I seen him transform? And the caption25 said the boy would be going back to Hogwarts…to where Harry was…”
“My God,” said Lupin softly, staring from Scabbers to the picture in the paper and back again. “His front paw…”
“What about it?” said Ron defiantly26.
“He's got a toe missing,” said Black.
“Of course,” Lupin breathed. “So simple…so brilliant…he cut it off himself?”
“Just before he transformed,” said Black. “When I cornered him, he yelled for the whole street to hear that I'd betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he blew apart the street with the wand behind his back, killed everyone within twenty feet of himself — and sped down into the sewer27 with the other rats….”
“Didn't you ever hear, Ron?” said Lupin. “The biggest bit of Peter they found was his finger.”
“Look, Scabbers probably had a fight with another rat or something! He's been in my family for ages, right —”
“Twelve years, in fact,” said Lupin. “Didn't you ever wonder why he was living so long?”
“We — we've been taking good care of him!” said Ron.
“Not looking too good at the moment, though, is he?” said Lupin. “I'd guess he's been losing weight ever since he heard Sirius was on the loose again….”
“He's been scared of that mad cat!” said Ron, nodding toward Crookshanks, who was still purring on the bed.
But that wasn't right, Harry thought suddenly…Scabbers had been looking ill before he met Crookshanks… ever since Ron's return from Egypt…since the time when Black had escaped….
“This cat isn't mad,” said Black hoarsely28. He reached out a bony hand and stroked Crookshanks's fluffy29 head. “He's the most intelligent of his kind I've ever met. He recognized Peter for what he was right away. And when he met me, he knew I was no dog. It was a while before he trusted me…Finally, I managed to communicate to him what I was after, and he's been helping me…”
“What do you mean?” breathed Hermione.
“He tried to bring Peter to me, but couldn't…so he stole the passwords into Gryffindor Tower for me…As I understand it, he took them from a boy's bedside table…”
Harry's brain seemed to be sagging30 under the weight of what he was hearing. It was absurd…and yet…
“But Peter got wind of what was going on and ran for it.” croaked Black. “This cat — Crookshanks, did you call him? — told me Peter had left blood on the sheets…I supposed he bit himself…Well, faking his own death had worked once.”
These words jolted31 Harry to his senses.
“And why did he fake his death?” he said furiously. “Because he knew you were about to kill him like you killed my parents!”
“No,” said Lupin, “Harry—”
“And now you've come to finish him off!”
“Yes, I have,” said Black, with an evil look at Scabbers.
“Then I should've let Snape take you!” Harry shouted.
“Harry,” said Lupin hurriedly, “don't you see? All this time we've thought Sirius betrayed your parents, and Peter tracked him down — but it was the other way around, don't you see? Peter betrayed your mother and father — Sirius tracked Peter down —”
“THAT'S NOT TRUE!” Harry yelled. “HE WAS THEIR SECRET-KEEPER! HE SAID SO BEFORE YOU TURNED UP. HE SAID HE KILLED THEM!”
He was pointing at Black, who shook his head slowly; the sunken eyes were suddenly over bright.
“Harry…I as good as killed them,” he croaked. “I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me…I'm to blame, I know it…The night they died, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents’ house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies…I realized what Peter must've done…what I'd done….”
His voice broke. He turned away.
“Enough of this,” said Lupin, and there was a steely note in his voice Harry had never heard before. “There's one certain way to prove what really happened. Ron, give me that rat.”
“What are you going to do with him if I give him to you?” Ron asked Lupin tensely.
“Force him to show himself,” said Lupin. “If he really is a rat, it won't hurt him.”
Ron hesitated. Then at long last, he held out Scabbers and Lupin took him. Scabbers began to squeak32 without stopping, twisting and turning, his tiny black eyes bulging33 in his head. “Ready, Sirius?” said Lupin.
Black had already retrieved34 Snape's wand from the bed. He approached Lupin and the struggling rat, and his wet eyes suddenly seemed to be burning in his face.
“Together?” he said quietly.
“I think so”, said Lupin, holding Scabbers tightly in one hand and his wand in the other. “On the count of three. One — two — THREE!”
A flash of blue-white light erupted from both wands; for a moment, Scabbers was frozen in midair, his small gray form twisting madly — Ron yelled — the rat fell and hit the floor. There was another blinding flash of light and then —
It was like watching a speeded-up film of a growing tree. A head was shooting upward from the ground; limbs were sprouting35; a moment later, a man was standing36 where Scabbers had been, cringing37 and wringing38 his hands. Crookshanks was spitting and snarling39 on the bed; the hair on his back was standing up.
He was a very short man, hardly taller than Harry and Hermione. His thin, colorless hair was unkempt and there was a large bald patch on top. He had the shrunken appearance of a plump man who has lost a lot of weight in a short time. His skin looked grubby, almost like Scabbers's fur, and something of the rat lingered around his pointed nose and his very small, watery40 eyes. He looked around at them all, his breathing fast and shallow. Harry saw his eyes dart41 to the door and back again.
“Well, hello, Peter,” said Lupin pleasantly, as though rats frequently erupted into old school friends around him. “Long time, no see.”
“S—Sirius…R—Remus…” Even Pettigrew's voice was squeaky. Again, his eyes darted42 toward the door. “My friends…my old friends…”
Black's wand arm rose, but Lupin seized him around the wrist, gave him a warning took, then turned again to Pettigrew, his voice light and casual.
“We've been having a little chat, Peter, about what happened the night Lily and James died. You might have missed the finer points while you were squeaking43 around down there on the bed —”
“Remus,” gasped44 Pettigrew, and Harry could see beads45 of sweat breaking out over his pasty face, “you don't believe him, do you…? He tried to kill me, Remus….”
“So we've heard,” said Lupin, more coldly. “I'd like to clear up one or two little matters with you, Peter, if you'll be so —”
“He's come to try and kill me again!” Pettigrew squeaked46 suddenly, pointing at Black, and Harry saw that he used his middle finger, because his index was missing. “He killed Lily and James and now he's going to kill me too…You've got to help me, Remus….”
Black's face looked more skull-like than ever as he stared at Pettigrew with his fathomless47 eyes.
“No one's going to try and kill you until we've sorted a few things out,” said Lupin.
“Sorted things out?” squealed48 Pettigrew, looking wildly about him once more, eyes taking in the boarded windows and, again, the only door. “I knew he'd come after me! I knew he'd be back for me! I've been waiting for this for twelve years!”
“You knew Sirius was going to break out of Azkaban?” said Lupin, his brow furrowed49. “When nobody has ever done it before?”
“He's got dark powers the rest of us can only dream of!” Pettigrew shouted shrilly50. “How else did he get out of there? I suppose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named taught him a few tricks!”
Black started to laugh, a horrible, mirthless laugh that filled the whole room.
“Voldemort, teach me tricks?” he said.
Pettigrew flinched51 as though Black had brandished52 a whip at him.
“What, scared to hear your old master's name?” said Black. “I don't blame you, Peter. His lot aren't very happy with you, are they?”
“Don't know what you mean, Sirius —” muttered Pettigrew, his breathing faster than ever. His whole face was shining with sweat now.
“You haven't been hiding from me for twelve years,” said Black. “You've been hiding from Voldemort's old supporters. I heard things in Azkaban, Peter…They all think you're dead, or you'd have to answer to them…I've heard them screaming all sorts of things in their sleep. Sounds like they think the double-crosser double-crossed them. Voldemort went to the Potters’ on your information…and Voldemort met his downfall there. And not all Voldemort's supporters ended up in Azkaban, did they? There are still plenty out here, biding53 their time, pretending they've seen the error of their ways. If they ever got wind that you were still alive, Peter —”
“Don't know…what you're talking about…” said Pettigrew again, more shrilly than ever. He wiped his face on his sleeve and looked up at Lupin. “You don't believe this — this madness, Remus —”
“I must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend twelve years as a rat,” said Lupin evenly.
“Innocent, but scared!” squealed Pettigrew. “If Voldemort's supporters were after me, it was because I put one of their best men in Azkaban — the spy, Sirius Black!”
Black's face contorted.
“How dare you,” he growled54, sounding suddenly like the bearsized dog he had been. “I, a spy for Voldemort? When did I ever sneak55 around people who were stronger and more powerful than myself? But you, Peter — I'll never understand why I didn't see you were the spy from the start. You always liked big friends who'd look after you, didn't you? It used to be us…me and Remus…and James…”
Pettigrew wiped his face again; he was almost panting for breath.
“Me, a spy…must be out of your mind…never…don't know how you can say such a —”
“Lily and James only made you Secret-Keeper because I suggested it,” Black hissed, so venomously that Pettigrew took a step backward. “I thought it was the perfect plan…a bluff…Voldemort would be sure to come after me, would never dream they'd use a weak, talentless thing like you…It must have been the finest moment of your miserable56 life, telling Voldemort you could hand him the Potters.”
Pettigrew was muttering distractedly; Harry caught words like “far-fetched” and “lunacy,” but he couldn't help paying more attention to the ashen57 color of Pettigrew's face and the way his eyes continued to dart toward the windows and door.
“Professor Lupin?” said Hermione timidly. “Can — can I say something?”
“Certainly, Hermione,” said Lupin courteously58.
“Well — Scabbers — I mean, this — this man — he's been sleeping in Harry's dormitory for three years. If he's working for You-Know-Who, how come he never tried to hurt Harry before now?”
“There!” said Pettigrew shrilly, pointing at Ron with his maimed hand. “Thank you! You see, Remus? I have never hurt a hair of Harry's head! Why should I?”
“I'll tell you why,” said Black. “Because you never did anything for anyone unless you could see what was in it for you. Voldemort's been in hiding for fifteen years, they say he's half dead. You weren't about to commit murder right under Albus Dumbledore's nose, for a wreck59 of a wizard who'd lost all of his power, were you? You'd want to be quite sure he was the biggest bully60 in the playground before you went back to him, wouldn't you? Why else did you find a wizard family to take you in? Keeping an ear out for news, weren't you, Peter? Just in case your old protector regained61 strength, and it was safe to rejoin him….”
Pettigrew opened his mouth and closed it several times. He seemed to have lost the ability to talk.
“Er — Mr. Black — Sirius?” said Hermione.
Black jumped at being addressed like this and stared at Hermione as though he had never seen anything quite like her.
“If you don't mind me asking, how — how did you get out of Azkaban, if you didn't use Dark Magic?”
“Thank you!” gasped Pettigrew, nodding frantically62 at her. “Exactly! Precisely63 what I —”
But Lupin silenced him with a look. Black was frowning slightly at Hermione, but not as though he were annoyed with her. He seemed to be pondering his answer.
“I don't know how I did it,” he said slowly. “I think the only reason I never lost my mind is that I knew I was innocent. That wasn't a happy thought, so the Dementors couldn't suck it out of me…but it kept me sane64 and knowing who I am…helped me keep my powers…so when it all became…too much…I could transform in my cell…become a dog. Dementors can't see, you know…” He swallowed. “They feel their way toward people by feeding off their emotions…They could tell that my feelings were less — less human, less complex when I was a dog…but they thought, of course, that I was losing my mind like everyone else in there, so it didn't trouble them. But I was weak, very weak, and I had no hope of driving them away from me without a wand….”
“But then I saw Peter in that picture…I realized he was at Hogwarts with Harry…perfectly positioned to act, if one hint reached his ears that the Dark Side was gathering65 strength again…”
Pettigrew was shaking his head, mouthing noiselessly, but staring all the while at Black as though hypnotized.
“…ready to strike at the moment he could be sure of allies…and to deliver the last Potter to them. if he gave them Harry, who'd dare say he'd betrayed Lord Voldemort? He'd be welcomed back with honors….”
“So you see, I had to do something. I was the only one who knew Peter was still alive…”
Harry remembered what Mr. Weasley had told Mrs. Wealsey. ‘The guards say he's been talking in his sleep… always the same words… ‘He's at Hogwarts.'’
“It was as if someone had lit a fire In my head, and the Dementors couldn't destroy it…It wasn't a happy feeling…it was an obsession…but it gave me strength, it cleared my mind. So, one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog…It's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused…I was thin, very thin…thin enough to slip through the bars…I swam as a dog back to the mainland …I journeyed north and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog. I've been living in the forest ever since, except when I came to watch the Quidditch, of course. You fly as well as your father did, Harry….”
He looked at Harry, who did not look away.
“Believe me,” croaked Black. “Believe me, Harry. I never betrayed James and Lily. I would have died before I betrayed them.”
And at long last, Harry believed him. Throat too tight to speak, he nodded.
“No!”
Pettigrew had fallen to his knees as though Harry's nod had been his own death sentence. He shuffled66 forward on his knees, groveling, his hands clasped in front of him as though praying.
“Sirius — it's me…it's Peter…your friend…you wouldn't —”
Black kicked out and Pettigrew recoiled67.
“There's enough filth68 on my robes without you touching69 them,” said Black.
“Remus!” Pettigrew squeaked, turning to Lupin instead, writhing70 imploringly71 in front of him. “You don't believe this — wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?”
“Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter,” said Lupin. “I assume that's why you didn't tell me, Sirius?” he said casually72 over Pettigrew's head.
“Forgive me, Remus,” said Black.
“Not at all, Padfoot, old friend,” said Lupin, who was now rolling up his sleeves. “And will you, in turn, forgive me for believing you were the spy?”
“Of course,” said Black, and the ghost of a grin flitted across his gaunt face. He, too, began rolling up his sleeves. “Shall we kill him together?”
“Yes, I think so,” said Lupin grimly.
“You wouldn't…you won't…” gasped Pettigrew. And he scrambled73 around to Ron.
“Ron…haven't I been a good friend…a good pet? You won't let them kill me, Ron, will you…you're on my side, aren't you?”
But Ron was staring at Pettigrew with the utmost revulsion.
“I let you sleep in my bed!” he said.
“Kind boy…kind master…” Pettigrew crawled toward Ron “You won't let them do it…I was your rat…I was a good pet….”
“If you made a better rat than a human, it's not much to boast about, Peter,” said Black harshly. Ron, going still paler with pain, wrenched74 his broken leg out of Pettigrew's reach. Pettigrew turned on his knees, staggered forward, and seized the hem6 of Hermione's robes.
“Sweet girl…clever girl…you — you won't let them…Help me….”
Hermione pulled her robes out of Pettigrew's clutching hands and backed away against the wall, looking horrified75.
Pettigrew knelt, trembling uncontrollably, and turned his head slowly toward Harry.
“Harry…Harry…you look just like your father…just like him…”
“HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO HARRY?” roared Black. “HOW DARE YOU FACE HIM? HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT JAMES IN FRONT OF HIM?”
“Harry,” whispered Pettigrew, shuffling76 toward him, hands outstretched. “Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed…James would have understood, Harry…he would have shown me mercy…”
Both Black and Lupin strode forward, seized Pettigrew's shoulders, and threw him backward onto the floor. He sat there, twitching77 with terror, staring up at them.
“You sold Lily and James to Voldemort,” said Black, who was shaking too. “Do you deny it?”
Pettigrew burst into tears. It was horrible to watch, like an oversized, balding baby, cowering78 on the floor.
“Sirius, Sirius, what could I have done? The Dark Lord…you have no idea…he has weapons you can't imagine …I was scared, Sirius, I was never brave like you and Remus and James. I never meant it to happen…He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named forced me —”
“DON'T LIE!” bellowed79 Black. “YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!”
“He — he was taking over everywhere!” gasped Pettigrew. “Wh-what was there to be gained by refusing him?”
“What was there to be gained by fighting the most evil wizard who has ever existed?” said Black, with a terrible fury in his face. “Only innocent lives, Peter!”
“You don't understand!” whined80 Pettigrew. “He would have killed me, Sirius!”
“THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!” roared Black. “DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!”
Black and Lupin stood shoulder to shoulder, wands raised.
“You should have realized,” said Lupin quietly, “if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Good-bye, Peter.”
Hermione covered her face with her hands and turned to the wall.
“NO!” Harry yelled. He ran forward, placing himself in front Pettigrew, facing the wands. “You can't kill him,” he said breathlessly. “You can't.”
Black and Lupin both looked staggered.
“Harry, this piece of vermin is the reason you have no parents,” Black snarled. “This cringing bit of filth would have seen you die too, without turning a hair. You heard him. His own stinking81 skin meant more to him than your whole family.”
“I know,” Harry panted. “We'll take him up to the castle. We'll hand him over to the Dementors…He can go to Azkaban…but don't kill him.”
“Harry!” gasped Pettigrew, and he flung his arms around Harry's knees. “You — thank you — it's more than I deserve — thank you —”
“Get off me,” Harry spat, throwing Pettigrew's hands off him in disgust. “I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because — I don't reckon my dad would've wanted them to become killers82 — just for you.”
No one moved or made a sound except Pettigrew, whose breath was coming in wheezes83 as he clutched his chest. Black and Lupin were looking at each other. Then, with one movement, they lowered their wands.
“You're the only person who has the right to decide, Harry,” said Black. “But think… think what he did….”
“He can go to Azkaban,” Harry repeated. “If anyone deserves that place, he does….”
Pettigrew was still wheezing84 behind him.
“Very well,” said Lupin. “Stand aside, Harry.”
Harry hesitated.
“I'm going to tie him up,” said Lupin. “That's all, I swear.”
Harry stepped out of the way. Thin cords shot from Lupin's wand this time, and next moment, Pettigrew was wriggling85 on the floor, bound and gagged.
“But if you transform, Peter,” growled Black, his own wand pointing at Pettigrew too, “we will kill you. You agree, Harry?”
Harry looked down at the pitiful figure on the floor and nodded so that Pettigrew could see him.
“Right,” said Lupin, suddenly businesslike. “Ron, I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey, so I think it's best if we just strap86 your leg up until we can get you to the hospital wing.”
He hurried over to Ron, bent down, tapped Ron's leg with his wand, and muttered, “Ferula.” Bandages spun87 up Ron's leg, strapping88 it tightly to a splint. Lupin helped him to his feet; Ron put his weight gingerly on the leg and didn't wince89.
“That's better,” he said. “Thanks.”
“What about Professor Snape?” said Hermione in a small voice, looking down at Snape's prone90 figure.
“There's nothing seriously wrong with him,” said Lupin, bending over Snape and checking his pulse. “You were just a little — overenthusiastic. Still out cold. Er — perhaps it will be best if we don't revive him until we're safety back in the castle. We can take him like this….”
He muttered, “Mobilicorpus.” As though invisible strings91 were tied to Snape's wrists, neck, and knees, he was pulled into a standing position, head still lolling unpleasantly, like a grotesque92 puppet. He hung a few inches above the ground, his limp feet dangling93. Lupin picked up the Invisibility Cloak and tucked it safely into his pocket.
“And two of us should be chained to this,” said Black, nudging Pettigrew with his toe. “Just to make sure.”
“I'll do it,” said Lupin.
“And me,” said Ron savagely94, limping forward.
Black conjured95 heavy manacles from thin air; soon Pettigrew was upright again, left arm chained to Lupin's right, right arm to Ron's left. Ron's face was set. He seemed to have taken Scabbers's true identity as a personal insult. Crookshanks leapt lightly off the bed and led the way out of the room, his bottlebrush tail held jauntily96 high.
荷米恩尖叫着，巴拉克“腾”的站了起来，哈利则如同遭电击般地跳了起来。
“我在胡宾柳树的树基上发现了这个，”史纳皮说，他将斗篷扔在一边，用魔杖小心翼翼地指着露平，“波特，你做得很好，非常感谢。”
史纳皮屏住呼吸，但却喜形于色，“或许，你觉得很奇怪，我是怎样知道你在这里的。”他说，眼中闪着光，“我去过你的办公室，露平，今晚你忘了带上你的药水，所以我取了一只高脚杯，很幸运我这样做了，我是说，对我来说很幸运在你的桌子上，放着一张地图，只瞥了它一眼，我就知道了所有的一切，我看见你跑过通道，然后消失在视线里。”
“史纳皮……”露平开口说，但是史纳皮根本就不理会他。
“我一遍又一遍告诉校长，你在帮助你的老朋友巴拉克进入城堡，露平，这就是证据，即使是我都没有想过你竟然会将这个老地方当作你的藏身之所。”
“史纳皮，你犯了一个错误，”露平急促地说，“你并非听到了所有的一切——我可以解释说西里斯来这里并不为了要杀哈利。”
“对阿兹克班来说，今晚又多了两个，”史纳皮说道，现在他的眼光神采奕奕，“我对丹伯多将会如何处理这些很感兴趣……他一直都很确信你是无害的，你知道的，露平……一个被驯服了人狼。”
“你这个傻子，”露平轻声说，“一个学校的男孩怎么会舍得将一个无辜的人重新送回阿兹克班呢？”
“嗖！”细长的，像蛇一般的绳子从史纳皮的手杖中射出缠绕在露平的嘴上，腰上和足踝上。他一下失去平衡，倒在了地上，不能动弹。
随着一声愤怒的爆叫，巴拉克向史纳皮扑去，但是史纳皮将自己的魔杖直直的指在巴拉克的双目之间。
“给我一个理由，”他低语道，“给我一个这样做的理由，我发誓我会做的。”
巴拉克死死地站住了。那是不可能说出谁的脸上有更多的愤怒的。
哈利站在那，瘫软了下去，不知道该如何去做，或者是相信些什么。他瞥了一眼罗恩和荷米恩，罗恩看起来和他一样的迷惑，仍然努力抓住挣扎不止的斯卡伯斯。
然而，荷米恩向史纳皮迈进一步，了无生气地说：“史纳皮教授，听一听他们刚才所讲的东西是无妨的，对吧？”
“格林佐小姐，你已经被停学了，”史纳皮啐了一口，“你，波特还有威斯里，行为太出格了，竟然与一个谋杀犯和一只人狼成为一伙，不管怎样，都给我闭嘴。”
“但是如果，如果有错的话……”
“安静，你这个臭丫头，”史纳皮喊道，突然之间，看似怒不可遏，“不要开口讲你并不明白的东西！”几束火花从手杖的顶端射出，手杖仍然对准巴拉克的脸。
荷米恩静了下来。
“复仇是多么美啊！”史纳皮盯着巴拉克说：“我是多么的希望我会是那个抓住你的人呀……”
“你赢了，史纳皮，”巴拉克低声说，“只要你叫这个男孩将这只老鼠带回城堡——”他将头转向罗恩，“我就会安静的来……”
“去城堡？”史纳皮狡黠地说，“我并不认为我们要走那么远，我们所要做的只不过是离开这个柳树之后就马上把得蒙特叫来，他们会很高兴见到你的，巴拉克……会高兴的以致于和你来一个小小的亲吻，我敢说。”
巴拉克的脸上已失去了血色。
“你，你必须听我说，”他哽咽的说，“老鼠，你看那老鼠……”
但是有一种疯狂的闪光在史纳皮眼中，这是哈利所从未见过的。
他看起来无法理解。
“过来，你们所有的人，”他说。他点了点手指，绑着露平的绳子的端头便飞到了他的手中。“我来拉着这只人狼，得蒙特也许同样也会给他一个亲吻。”
在他明白他正在做的事情之间，哈利已经三个大步跨过屋子，并且关上了门。
“闪开，波特，你已经够麻烦的了，”史纳皮咆哮着，“如果我不曾来这里挽救你……”
“这一年，露平教授可以杀死我大约一百次了，”哈利说，“我不知有多少时间都是和他一起渡过的，一起上反黑巫术课。如果他在帮助巴拉克，那么他当时为什么不杀死我。”
“不要让我去揣摩一个狼人的心思，”史纳皮愤怒地吁声说，“闪开，波特。”
“你这个悲哀的家伙！”哈利叫嚷着，“只是因为他们曾经取笑过你，你就甚至不愿意再听……”
“闭嘴！不准再这样对我讲话！”史纳皮尖叫起来，看起来更加疯狂了。“什么样的老子，就有什么样的儿子，波特！我刚救了你这条小命，你应该跪着感激我！
如果他当时杀了你，你才真是活该！你就会和你爸爸一样的死去，太自负而不相信你会被巴拉克所欺骗——现在，让开，否则我就不客气了。滚开，波特。“
在那一刹那之间，哈利下定了决心，在史纳皮向他走进之前，他便举起了魔杖。
“伊斯彼特华朗，”他喊叫着——除此之外，他的手杖发出了仅有的声音。一阵爆炸声便“嘎吱”一声响起了，史纳皮两脚离地，被重重的摔在墙上，然后，滑到地板上。一股鲜血从他的脑后流出，他被撞晕了过去。
哈利向四周望了望。罗恩和荷米恩同时想要夺下他的手杖。史纳皮的手杖在空中划了一道圆弧，然后掉在紧挨克路殊克的床边。
“你不应该这样做，”巴拉克望着哈利说，“你应该把他留给我……”
哈利避开巴拉克的眼睛，直到现在，他也不知道，他所做的是否是对的。
“我们攻击了一个老师，我们攻击了一个老师……”荷米恩自言自语地盯着了无生气的老师，“我们会遇到大麻烦了。”
露平挣扎着挣脱束缚。巴拉克连忙弯下腰帮他解开了身上的绳子。露平站起来，揉搓着胳膊上绳子勒过的伤痕。
“谢谢你，哈利。”他说道。
“我还没说我会相信你，”哈利反驳道。
“那么，现在是我们向你出示证据的时候了，”巴拉克说，“你，孩子，现在请将斯卡伯斯给我。”
罗恩将斯卡伯斯拉入自己的胸膛里。
“放开它，”他微弱地说，“你们是否说逃离阿兹克班只是为了抓住斯卡伯斯呢？我是说……”他望向哈利和荷米恩寻求支持。“好吧！就算是彼德吉雷可以变成一只老鼠——这里有成千上万只老鼠，如果他被关在阿兹克班，他怎么会知道哪一只老鼠是他要寻找的呢？”
“你明白，西里斯，这是一个相当合理的问题，”露平转向巴拉克，眉头轻皱，“你是怎样知道他在哪里的呢？”
巴拉克将他那如爪子一样的手放进袍子里，拿出了一张揉得很皱的纸，他将它弄平整，然后伸出来拿给其它人看。
那是前一个夏天，登在《先知日报》上的一张罗恩和他的家人的合影，斯卡伯斯就呆在罗恩的肩上。
“你是怎么搞到这个的？”露平说。
“法治，”巴拉克答道。“去年他来视察阿兹克班时给了我这张报纸。斯卡伯斯就在首页上……呆在它的肩上，我一下子就认出了它……，我不知见过他多少次变形。而且还听说它将会回到霍格瓦彻……去哈利呆着的地方……”
“我的天呀！”露平轻叹着，将盯向斯卡伯斯的目光转向报纸上的图片，又重新转向斯卡伯斯，“他的前爪……”
“怎么了？”
“他少了一个脚趾。”巴拉克说。
“当然，”露平喘着气说，“这么简单，这么明显，是他自己切掉了它吗？”
“就在他变形之前，”巴拉克说，“当我将他逼人角落的时候，他叫喊着使得整条街的人们都可以听到是我出卖了露平和杰姆斯。然后，在我追上他之前，他用魔杖炸开了整条街，杀死了所有在他二十英尺以内的人——然后同别的老鼠一起——”
“你没有听说过吗？罗恩。”露平说，“他们找到的彼得身上最大的一块就是一个手指。”
“你看，斯卡伯斯可能是和别的老鼠或其它的什么东西打过一架，它在我们家已经呆了好几年了，是吧——”
“事实上是十二年。”露平说，“你从前没感到过奇怪吗？为什么他可以活那么久？”
“我们，我们一直对他照顾得很好！”罗恩说。
“但是现在看来他的气色并不怎么样，不是吗？”露平说，“我猜肯定是当他知道西里斯又一次逃脱时，才变得消瘦的。”
“他是被那只疯猫给吓的！”罗恩说道，朝克路殊克点了点头，克路殊克仍然在床边“喵，喵”地叫着。
但是这并不是事实，哈利突然想起在遇到克路殊克之前，斯卡伯斯就一直看起来病怏怏的……是从罗恩从埃及返回来时开始的……
也就是自从巴拉克逃脱时起。
“这只猫并不疯，”巴拉克嘶哑地说。他伸出骨瘦如柴的手抚摸着克路殊克毛茸茸的头。“他是我所见过的最聪明的猫，它认得彼得是因为它知道他究竟是什么。
当它遇见我的时候，它就知道我并不是狗。花了一段时间，它才相信了我，最后，我试着与它沟通，告诉它我在寻找什么。它一直都在帮助我。“
“你是指什么？”荷米恩紧张地问。
“它试着将彼得带来见我，但是没能做到……因此它为我偷了进入格林芬顿塔的密码……据我所知，它是从一个男孩床边的茶几上偷到的……”
哈利的脑袋看起来像因为承受不了他所听到的东西，垂了下来，太荒唐了，而且……
“但是彼得得知将会发生什么并准备逃走……这只猫……克路殊克，正如你们所称呼的——告诉我彼得在床上留下了血迹……我猜是他咬了他自己……然后，重新上演他装死的一幕。”
这些话使哈利猛然产生了一个念头。
“为什么他要装死呢？”他恐惧的问道，“因为他知道你要像杀死我父母那样杀死他。”
“不！”露平说，“哈利——”
“而且你现在是打算来杀死他的！”
“是的！”巴拉克说，厌恶的看着斯卡伯斯。
“那么，我当时应该让史纳皮带走你！”哈利喊到。
“哈利，”露平急促地说，“难道你还没有看到吗？我们一直认为是西里斯出卖了你的父母，彼得追踪他——但事实是截然相反的，你还没看到吗？彼得出卖了你的父母，西里斯追踪彼得——”
“这不是真的！”哈利喊到，“他是我的爸妈的保密人！他说过是他杀了他们，你也在场！”
他指向巴拉克，但巴拉克缓缓地摇了摇头，他沉陷的眼睛突然变的格外明亮。
“哈利……我是杀了他们，”他哽咽着说，“我在最后一刻说服他们让彼得做他们的保密人，让他来代替我……我是应受谴责，我知道，那天晚上他们死了，我曾安排好去查看彼得，确保他仍然安全，但是当我到达他的藏身之地时，他已经走了。而且那里并没有格斗的痕迹。我觉得蹊跷，我被吓坏了，直奔向你父母的房子。
但是当我看到房子时，它已经被毁了，还有你父母的尸体——我意识到这一切肯定是彼得干的。还有我干的。“
他的声音停住了，然后转过身去。
“够了！”露平说。他声音中坚定的语调是哈利从未听到过的，“现在，只有一个办法可以证明当时所发生的一切，罗恩，将老鼠给我。”
“如果我把它给了你们，你们会怎样对待他？”罗恩紧张的问。
“迫使它现出原形。”露平说，“如果它真的是只老鼠，我们不会伤害它的。”
罗恩犹豫着，然后终于交与了斯卡伯斯，露平接过他。斯卡伯斯开始不停地尖叫，扭动，它头上的那双小黑眼几乎凸了出来。
“准备好了吗？西里斯。”露平说。
巴拉克已经从床边拿来了史纳皮的魔杖，他走到露平和这只挣扎木体的小老鼠面前，他那潮湿的眼睛突然如燃烧一般。
“拿起来！”他轻轻地说。
“我也是这么想的，”露平说，一支手拿着斯卡伯斯，另一支手拿起了魔杖，“我数三下，一，二，三！”
每支魔杖都发出了一束蓝白色的光，斯卡伯斯一下子被升到了半空中，他那小小的黑色的身体疯狂地扭曲着。——罗恩叫喊着——那只老鼠落下来，重重地摔在地板上，一束刺眼的光芒闪出，然后——那就好像在看一部经加速的电影似的，可以看一棵树一节一节地长高。一只头从地上漫漫长出，然后，四肢像发芽似的缓缓伸出，下一刻，一个男人站在了斯卡伯斯站过的地方，伸缩的搓着双手。克路殊克在床上呲着牙嗥叫着，背上的毛都竖了起来。
他是一个很短小的人，几乎还不够哈利和荷米恩那么高，他那稀疏的，淡色的头发凌乱不堪，头顶上的一片都秃了。他就像是一个雍肿的人突然缩了水似的，一下子就瘦了下去。他那肮脏的皮肤几乎和斯卡伯斯的毛一样。他那尖尖的鼻子使人不由自主想象到老鼠。
他那小小的，潮湿的眼睛向四周看着他们，他的呼吸匆忙而短促，哈利看见他的眼睛射向门后又转开了。
“哦，你好吗，彼得，”露平愉快地说，好像经常有老鼠会变成他的老同学似的，“好久不见了。”
“西——西里斯，雷马斯……”彼德吉雷的声音听起来如同尖叫，他又一次将目光投向门口，“我的朋友们……我的老朋友们……”
巴拉克的手杖又一次举起，但是露平抓住了他的手，给了他一个要他留心的眼神，然后又转向彼德吉雷，他的声音轻松而自然。
“让我们来一个小小的谈话，彼得，那天晚上，当莉莉和杰姆斯死去的时候究竟都发生了些什么。当你在床上乱叫的时候，你可能错过了最精彩的情节。”
“雷马斯，”彼德吉雷喘着粗气说，哈利可以看到他的脸上满是大滴大滴的汗珠，“你不信任我，是吗？他想要杀死我呀！雷马斯。”
“这是我们听过的”，露平说，声音更加冷酷了。“我想和你搞清楚一两件事，彼得，如果你愿意的话。”
“他又要来杀我了！”彼德吉雷突然尖叫道，指向巴拉克，哈利注意到他用的是中指，因为他的食指已经失去了。“他杀死了莉莉和杰姆斯，现在他又想来杀死我……你得帮助我，雷马斯……”
当巴拉克那深不可测的双眼望向彼得时，他的脸看起来比任何时候都更形如骷髅。
“直到我们搞清楚一些事情之前，没有人想要杀你。”露平说。
“弄清一些事？”彼德吉雷尖叫着问，他又一次狂野起来，眼睛盯向敞开的窗户，然后又盯向唯一的门。“我知道他在追杀我，我知道他会回来找我的，我已经等了整整十二年了。”
“你知道西里斯会逃出阿兹克班？”露平说，他的眉头紧凑。“在没有人做到这之前？”
“他所具有的邪恶力量是我们做梦都得不到的。”彼德吉雷尖叫着，“不然的话他怎么能从那里逃出来呢？我猜肯定是什么不为人知的东西教给他的诡计。”
巴拉克开始大笑起来，一种恐怖的，毫无怜悯的笑声充满了屋子。
“福尔得摩特教给我诡计？”他说。
彼德吉雷抽缩着，如同巴拉克抽了他一鞭。
“怎么，听到你的老校长的名字害怕了是吧？”巴拉克说，“我并不怪你，他们那一群人并不喜欢你，不是吗？”
“我不知道——你在说些什么，西里斯——”彼德吉雷咕哝着，他的呼吸更加急促了，现在他的整张脸都是湿的了。
“你并不是为了躲开我，才藏了十二年的，”巴拉克说，“你是为了躲避福尔得摩特的支持者们。在阿兹克班，我听到了一些东西，彼得……他们都认为你已经死了，否则你早就遭报应了……我听到过他们在睡梦中的各种尖叫声，听起来好像是他们认为有背叛者出卖了他们，福尔得摩特是按你的指示去波特家的……并且福尔得摩特是在那里垮台的，而且并不是所有的福尔得摩特的支持者都进了阿兹克班，不是吗？这里还有很多他们的人，假装已承认了他们过去做的错事，其实在准备时机……假如他们听到风声说你还活着的话，彼得……”
“我不知道……你在讲些什么……”彼德吉雷又一次嚷道，尖叫比以前更厉害。
他用袖子擦了擦自己的脸，然后又望向露平，“你不相信这些的，你不相信这些疯话的，雷马斯。”
“我必须承认，彼得，我很难想明白为什么一个无辜的人会作为一只老鼠度过十二年。”露平平静地说。
“无辜，但是害怕！”彼德吉雷尖声说，“如果说福尔得摩特的支持者追查我，那是因为我将他们的头儿送进了阿兹克班——那个间谍，西里斯。巴拉克。”
巴拉克的脸因扭曲而走了样。
“好大的胆，你——”他咆哮着，听起来就像是一只如熊般大的狗发出的。
“我是福尔得摩特的间谍？我什么时候曾偷偷的向比我强壮或有力的人献过殷勤？
但是你，彼得——我不明白我当时怎么没从这一点上发现你是个间谍。你总是喜欢能照顾你的朋友，不是吗？
过去是我们，我，雷马斯还有杰姆斯……“彼德吉雷又一次抹了一把脸，他几乎为了吸气而剧烈地喘息着。
“我，一个间谍……你肯定是糊涂了……我永远不明白他怎么会这样说…”
“莉莉和杰姆斯让你做保密人是我提议的。”巴拉克嘶嘶的说。
彼德吉雷恶毒的向后退了一步，巴拉克接着说，“我以为这是一个完美无缺的计划——可以绝处逢生……福尔得摩特肯定会追我，我从没想到过他们竟然会利用你这个毫无本事，胆小怕事的东西，当时肯定是你这悲惨的一生中最快乐的时光，告诉福尔得摩特你将会把波特夫妇双手奉送给他们。”
彼德吉雷心烦意乱地咕哝着，哈利听到了一些诸如“反常”，“神经错乱”的词，但是他不经意的注意到彼德吉雷那苍白的脸色以及他再次将目光投向门和窗子的神情。
“露平教授，”荷米恩胆怯地叫了一声，“我可以讲几句话吗？”
“当然，荷米恩。”露平礼貌地回答道。
“是这样的，斯卡伯斯，我是指这个曾经在哈利的宿舍里住了三年的男人。如果他在为您所说的那个人效劳，那么为何他以前没有加害哈利呢？”
“就是嘛！”彼德吉雷尖叫着，用他那只残废的手指着荷米恩说，“谢谢你！
你看，雷马斯！我从未伤过哈利的一根毫毛，这是为什么呢？“
“我会告诉你为什么，”巴拉克说，“因为除非对你而言有好处可寻，否则你决不会为任何人做任何事。福尔得摩特已经藏了十二年了，他们说他已经是半死不活了，你不会在丹伯多的鼻子底下犯谋杀罪的，否则，一个巫师将会失去他所有的法力，不是吗？在你回去他那里之前，你想要先弄清楚他是魔法界最大的坏蛋，不是吗？况且，你为什么非要住在一个魔法师的家里呢？你只是为了能得到最新的消息，不是吗？万一你以前的保护者又重新壮大起来，加入他们会很安全的……”
彼德吉雷的嘴张开又合上了几次，他好像是已经不能讲话了。
“哦，巴拉克先生——西里斯？”荷米恩胆怯地说。
巴拉克被这种称呼吓了一大跳，他盯着荷米恩好像是如何礼貌地讲话已经是被忘记了很久的事了。
“如果您不介意的话，我想问一下，如果您没有借助邪恶巫术的话，您是怎样逃离阿兹克班的呢？”
“谢谢你，”彼德吉雷喘着气说，疯狂地冲她点着头说，“非常正确，确切地说……”
但是露平狠狠地盯了他一眼，使他闭上了嘴。巴拉克冲着荷米恩微微地皱了皱眉，但是他看起来并不像是因为荷米恩的话而恼怒，而是在想他应当如何叙述。
“我不知道我是如何做到的。”他慢慢说，“唯一能解释我并没有失去心智的原因就是我知道我是无辜的。这并不是一个令人愉快的想法。所以得蒙特并没能使我失去心智。但是它却使我知道我是谁，帮助我保存了我的力量。因此当一切都到来的时候，我在监牢里变形，变成一只狗，你们是知道，得蒙特看不见……”他咽了一下口水，“他们感觉得到人，是通过察觉他们的感情……他们可以感觉到我的情感越来越失去人性，当我变成狗的时候，感情就不再那么复杂了……但是他们想，当然是因为我和其他人一样失去了心智的原因，因此这没有使他们起疑心。但是我当时非常非常的虚弱，我并不抱希望在没有魔杖的情况下，我能够将他们赶走。但是当我看见彼得在这幅图画中的时候，我意识到他就在霍格瓦彻，与哈利在一起…
…
蓄势待发，一旦有黑暗势力重新纠集在一起的消息传入他的耳中……“彼德吉雷摇着头，嘴里发出乱七八糟的声音，但是他一直在盯着巴拉克，好像被催眠了一样。
“只等听到他们又重新纠集在一起的消息就将最后一个波特家的人带去献给他们。只要他将哈利交给他们，谁还敢说是他出卖了福尔得摩特呢？他将会荣耀而归。”
“现在你们看到了，我必须要有所行动才行，只有我知道彼得还活着。”
哈利记起了威斯里先生曾经对威斯里夫人说过的话。“警卫们说他一直讲梦话，而且总是重复同样的话……‘他在霍格瓦彻’。”
“就好像是有人在我的脑子里点了一把火，连得蒙特都无法熄灭它……这并不是一种令人愉快的感情……这是一种压抑感……但是它给了我力量，它使我的头脑清醒了。因此，一天晚上，他们打开门给我送食物的时候，我变成一条狗从他们的身边爬过……对他们来说察觉动物的感情是相当困难的。以至于他们被搞糊涂了…
…我这人非常的瘦……瘦得足以从栏杆之间爬出来……我像狗一样回到大陆……我从此就在森林里居住着，除了我去观看快迪斯球赛的时候，当然……你飞的时候和你爸爸一样，哈利……“
他看着哈利，这一次他没有望向别处。
“相信我，”巴拉克嘶哑地说，“相信我，我从未出卖过莉莉和杰姆斯，我会在出卖他们之前就死掉的。”
最后，哈利终于相信他，他的喉咙过于夜咽而说不出话，只好点了点头。
“不要！”
彼德吉雷双腿一软跪在了地上，哈利点头如同宣判了彼德吉雷的死一般。他双膝跪着往前蹭，匍匐在地上，他的双手合拢放在胸前，好像是祈祷似的。
“西里斯，是我呀……我是彼得呀，你的好朋友，你不会……”
巴拉克一脚踢向彼德吉雷，彼德吉雷连忙向后缩。
“我的袍子没被你碰之前就已经够脏的了。”巴拉克说。
“雷马斯，”彼德吉雷尖叫着，转而向雷马斯求救。在雷马斯面前拼命的哀求着，“不要相信这些……难道西里斯没有告诉过你他们改变了计划吗？”
“除非他认为我是间谍，彼得，”露平说，“让我假设这是你没有告诉我的原因，西里斯？”他在彼德吉雷的头顶上轻松的说。
“原谅我，雷马斯？”巴拉克说。
“没什么，彼弗，我的老朋友，”露平说，他卷起了自己的袖子，“那么你呢？
是不是也能原谅我误认你为间谍呢？“
“当然，”巴拉克说，一丝笑意呈现在他那张枯瘦的脸上。他也开始卷起了袖子，“我们可以一起杀死地吗？”
“当然，我正有此意。”露平微笑着说。
“你们不可以……你们不能……”彼德吉雷喘着气说，并且抓着罗恩的衣服。
“罗恩……难道我不是你的好朋友吗？一个好的宠物？你不会让他们杀死我的，罗恩，是吗？你会站在我这一边的，不是吗？”
但是罗恩十分厌恶的盯着他。
“我让你睡我的床。”他说。
“亲爱的孩子，亲爱的主人……”彼德吉雷爬向罗恩，“你不会让他们这样做的……我是你的老鼠，我是你的好宠物……”
“如果你真的是老鼠而不是人，这么说倒不足为怪。”巴拉克严厉地说。罗恩的脸色因痛苦而变得越发灰白，将自己的断腿脱离彼德吉雷，彼德吉雷又脆起来，摇摇的移向荷米恩，拉住了她的衣角。
“可爱的姑娘，聪明的姑娘——你，你不会让他们……帮帮我吧！”荷米恩将自己的袍子从他手中拉出，退回到墙边，胆怯的望着这一切。
彼德吉雷跪坐了下来，无法控制的擅抖着，将他的头慢慢地转向哈利。
“哈利，哈利，你看起来就和你的父亲一样，一模一样！”
“你怎么敢对哈利讲话？”巴拉克咆哮着，“你怎么还敢面对他？
你怎么还敢在他面前提起杰姆斯？“
“哈利，”彼德吉雷蹭着移向他，伸出双手，低声说，“哈利，杰姆斯不会让我被别人杀死的……他会明白一切的，哈利，他一定会怜悯我的。”
巴拉克和露平一起走上前，抓住了彼德吉雷的肩膀，又将他扔到地上。他坐在地上，充满恐惧地望着他们。
“你将莉莉和杰姆斯出卖给福尔得摩特；”巴拉克颤抖地说。“你还想抵赖吗？”
彼德吉雷大哭起来。那是一幅吓人的景象：就像是一个秃顶的，硕大的婴儿，蜷缩在地上。
“西里斯，西里斯，我还能怎么办呢？邪恶巫师，你根本就不知道……他所拥有的武器你根本就无法想象……我被吓坏了，西里斯，我从来就不像你和雷马斯还有杰姆斯那么勇敢。我也不想那么做，但是那个不可言喻的人强迫我——”
“不准说谎，”巴拉克咆哮着，“在莉莉和杰姆斯死去的一年以前你就开始为他们提供情报了，你是他们的密探！”
“他，他控制着一切！”彼德吉雷喘着气说，“拒绝他将会得到什么呢？”
“那么与曾经存在过的最邪恶的巫师作战又能得到什么好处呢？”巴拉克说，他的脸上出现了令人恐惧的愤怒，“只是那些无辜的生命，彼得。”
“你不会明白的。”彼德吉雷眨着眼说，“他们会杀了我的，西里斯。”
“那么你当时就应该死掉！”巴拉克咆哮着，“死总比出卖自己的朋友好，就像我们为你做的那样。”
巴拉克与露平肩并肩的站着，举起了手杖。
“你早就应该知道，”露平静静的说，“如果福尔得摩特不杀死你，我们也会的。再见，彼得。”
荷米恩用双手捂住了脸，转向墙。
“不！”哈利喊道。他跑上前，迎着魔杖，挡在了彼得前面，“你们不能杀死他，”他静静的说，“你们不能。”
巴拉克和露平都吃了一惊。
“哈利，这个垃圾是你失去父母的原因。”巴拉克吼道，“这个卑躬屈膝的肮脏的家伙，可以不动吹灰之力杀死你，你听到了，他的肮脏的心害过你们一家人的性命。”
“我知道。”哈利喘着气说，“我们应该把他带回城堡，把他交给得蒙特，他会被送去阿兹克班，不要杀死他。”
“哈利，”彼德吉雷喘息着叫着，将他的双臂抱在哈利的膝处，“你——太谢谢你了——那总好过抛下我——谢谢你。”
“放开我，”哈利吐了他一口，厌恶的拨开彼德吉雷的双手，“我并不是为了你，才这样做的，我这样是因为，我不认为我爸爸会忍心看到他最好的朋友成为凶手——只是因为你。”
没有人动，也没有人发出任何响声，除了彼德吉雷，他抓着胸部，吃力的呼吸着。巴拉克和露平对望了一下，同时垂下了魔杖。
“你是唯—一个有权决定的人，哈利，”巴拉克说，“但是想一想，想一想他所做的一切……”
“他可以去阿兹克班，”哈利重复道，“如果有人罪有应得到那个地方，他就是……”
彼德吉雷仍然躲在他身后吃力的喘息着。
“好吧！”露平说，“站在一边，哈利。”
哈利迟疑着。
“我要把他绑起来，”露平说，“就这些而已，我发誓。”
哈利让到了一边，细绳这一次从露平的魔杖中射出。一会儿，彼得便躺在地上，嘴巴被塞住，身上绑了绳子。
“但是如果你变形的话，彼得，”巴拉克吼道，他的魔杖对准着彼德吉雷，“我们就会杀了你。哈利，你同意吗？”
哈利看了看这个躺在地板上的令人不忍的东西，点了点头，这情景彼德吉雷可以看到。
“好吧！”露平说，“罗恩，和波姆弗雷夫人一样，我已经很难医好你的腿骨了，所以我想如果在到达医院之前，我们把你的腿用带子绑好就好了。”
他急忙走近罗思，弯下腰，用他的魔杖敲着他的腿，咕哝道：“金属包带。”
绷带一下子就绑在了他的腿上，将它紧紧地夹在夹板上。
露平帮他站了起来，罗恩将他的体重放在未受伤的腿上。
“现在好多了，”他说，“谢谢你。”
“史纳皮教授怎么办呢？”荷米恩小声地问道。看着俯卧在地上的史纳皮。
“他并没有什么大问题，”露平说，弯下腰去查看史纳皮的脉搏，“他只是有点太过激动，还没冷。嗯，最好等我们安全返回城堡之后再来弄醒他。我们可以这样做……”
他
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
willow
|
|
| n.柳树 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
overrode
|
|
| 越控( override的过去式 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
grudge
|
|
| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
hem
|
|
| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
deranged
|
|
| adj.疯狂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
croaked
|
|
| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
fathom
|
|
| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
trickle
|
|
| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
oozing
|
|
| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
disarm
|
|
| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
untied
|
|
| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
crumpled
|
|
| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
caption
|
|
| n.说明，字幕，标题；v.加上标题，加上说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
defiantly
|
|
| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
sewer
|
|
| n.排水沟，下水道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
fluffy
|
|
| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
sagging
|
|
| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
jolted
|
|
| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
squeak
|
|
| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bulging
|
|
| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
retrieved
|
|
| v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sprouting
|
|
| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
cringing
|
|
| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
wringing
|
|
| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
snarling
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dart
|
|
| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
squeaking
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
squeaked
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fathomless
|
|
| a.深不可测的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
squealed
|
|
| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
furrowed
|
|
| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
shrilly
|
|
| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
flinched
|
|
| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
brandished
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
biding
|
|
| v.等待，停留( bide的现在分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待；面临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ashen
|
|
| adj.灰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
courteously
|
|
| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
bully
|
|
| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
sane
|
|
| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
filth
|
|
| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
imploringly
|
|
| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
wrenched
|
|
| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
shuffling
|
|
| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
cowering
|
|
| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
bellowed
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
whined
|
|
| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
stinking
|
|
| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
killers
|
|
| 凶手( killer的名词复数 )； 消灭…者； 致命物； 极难的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
wheezes
|
|
| n.喘息声( wheeze的名词复数 )v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
wheezing
|
|
| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
wriggling
|
|
| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
strap
|
|
| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
strapping
|
|
| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
wince
|
|
| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
strings
|
|
| n.弦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
conjured
|
|
| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
jauntily
|
|
| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |